Los Angeles, CA — In an entertaining press conference on Thursday, lightweight professional boxers Mikey Garcia and Robert Easter Jr., entered the Conga Room to discuss their thoughts on their upcoming title unification match on Saturday, July 28.
Undefeated WBC lightweight champion Mikey Garcia is ranked number one in the lightweight division with a 38-0 record (30 knockouts). Standing at 5’6” and 135 lbs., Garcia has held the title since 2017, and he doesn’t plan on letting go of that title anytime soon. He will have the home court advantage on Saturday since he is born and raised in California, meanwhile, his opponent Robert Easter Jr. is coming from a small town in Ohio called Toledo.
Easter Jr. is no rookie to the game. As the IBF lightweight champ, he holds a record of 21-0 with 14 knockouts. Weighing 135 lbs., his 5’11 stance creates a slight advantage against Garcia, as well as his eight-inch difference reach.
However, Garcia has a lot more rounds under his belt (202) compared to Easter Jr., who has boxed barely over a hundred rounds. Each boxer has something they can bring to the table, which will create a very competitive match-up.
Even though Garcia currently stands in the top five pound-for-pound list, Easter Jr. is confident he can take him down.
“This fight is a big fight, but I look at all my fights as a big fight,” Easter, Jr. said. “Fans, you know, they have their favorites. We did what we had to do in training camp to prepare for this fight, and on July 28, you will see.”
Easter Jr. has been preparing for this day his whole life since he has had his father, former boxer Robert Easter Sr., to look up to. Easter Sr. now plays the role of coach and trainer to his son, helping to motivate him to become the champion he knows his son can be.
“He’s an excellent boxer when he wants to box,” joked Easter Sr. “I think he has the natural skill and ability. He’s 6-feet tall, lightweight, long reach, and we are prepared to dictate the tempo, to control distance range, and everything that we’ve really wanted to do, we’ve done it the last 10 weeks of camp, and I think he’s going to do it Saturday night.”
Garcia will also have his family close to his side inside the ring. His father, Eduardo, and brother, Robert, have both taken the role of co-trainers and believe they have prepared him well for the upcoming match-up despite the height difference.
“We’re very well-prepared,” Robert said. “Mikey is mentally ready for a big challenge. You know there are always risks. This guy is very tall, I’m sure he is going to try and use his reach, but we’re ready for whatever he brings.”
Garcia expressed he is ready to fight against another undefeated champion in his weight class, and that there is no better time than now in his career to take the biggest fight and the biggest challenge.
It is no doubt that Easter Jr. and Garcia will give each other a run for their money. They are two undefeated champions competing for the title of best lightweight champion in the world.
“In my eyes, this winner will determine the best in the division,” declared Garcia.
This is a fight you will not want to miss.
You can catch these two undefeated champions battle it out on Saturday, July 28 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PST. The match will be streaming live on Showtime, as well as the other lower card fights.
The lower card fights include Luis Ortiz v. Razvan Cojanu and Mario Barrios v. Jose Roman, starting at 3 p.m. PST.
